Indian lead-acid battery maker Amara Raja Batteries is reportedly preparing to branch out into “alternative chemistries” as part of business expansion plans.
Amara chairman Ramachandra N Galla told India’s Business Standard: “We expect to finalise the technologies and the investment plans in a year or two. The work on research, capital costs and partnerships is currently under way.”
Galla stressed the plans will “not in any way distract” the company’s focus on further strengthening its existing lead-acid business.
However, Galla said a move into lithium-ion battery manufacturing “made sense” in response to government moves to encourage development of the electric vehicles sector.
But according to the report, Galla said Amara “would prefer sourcing lithium-ion batteries from its partners for supply in domestic market in the initial phases before it sets sight on manufacturing itself”.
Amara could not be contacted for comment by BBB. However, the move mirrors an announcement made this year by Indian lead-acid battery peer Exide Industries.
Exide Industries CEO and managing director G Chatterjee said in July: “We are in a very disruptive stage as far as the battery industry is concerned. We are keeping our plans flexible.”
A recent report by the India Energy Storage Alliance said the country’s lead-acid business is set to soar over the next few years and demand from stationary and motive applications will more than double in value.
